Latch



April 28, 1925. I 1,535,478

I. s. KEELER LATCH Filed June 9, 1923 I 2 v 14 17 v 4 2 ETTI.

q -11,11,717, a 1/1/ 1,- I 1 II II loaac J. Ke'e/er housing has outwardly Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC s. KEELER, or GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 KEELEB muss com- 7 PANY, or (mam) mms, MICHIGAN.

LATCH.

Application filed June 9, 1923. Serial No. 644,300.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC S. Kama, a citizen of the. United States, residing at Grand Rapids, county of" Kent, State .of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Latches, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to improvements in latches.

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved latch which is particularly adapted for use on refrigerator doors and the like, the same exerting a clamping action on the door when the latch is engaged.

A. further object is to provide an improved latch which is well adapted for use on refrigerator doors and the like and keeper face 18 with which the bolt coacts I which may be used interchangeably on right or left hand opening doors.

A still further object is to provide an improved latch having these advantages which is simple, and strong and durable in structure.

Further objects, and objects relating to structuraldetails, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish-the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims,

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my inventionis clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. I is a top view' of my improved latch applied to a door, fragments only of the door and its casing being indicated.

Fig. 11 is a detail view partially in central lon 'tudinal section.

Fig. I is a side elevation of a slightly modified form or embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer' to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the door and-2 the casing of a refrigerator or like structure to which I have shown my improved latch applied.

My improved latch comprises a housing 3 having side flanges 4 provided with holes to receive the attaching screws 5. This projecting pivot ears .wall of the housing, as shown in Fig. II.

The lever 14 is mounted; on the ivot 15 carried by the ears 6 and has a nger 16 projecting through the opening 7 to engage the opening 11 in the bolt for retracing the bolt. The lever finger 16 serves as a stop limiting the projecting movement of the bolt.

The strike 17 is provided with a beveled so that when the spring urges the bolt against this beveled or inclined face, the door is wedged to closed position. To facilitate this action the bolt is beveled at 19 so that the bolt slides freely in a projected position under the action of :the spring. The beveled portion of the bolt, however, is arranged so that when the bolt is fully projected the keeper engages the bolt beyond the beveled portion.

The strike has an inclined face 20 with which the bolt engages as the door is closed so that the bolt is automatically retracted, that is, it is not necessary to manipulate the latch lever to close the door.

In the modification shown in Fig. III, the parts are substantially the same as descriljed with the exception that the bolt 21 is provided with a strike engaging roller 22.

My improved latch is particularly desirable for use on refrigerator and like doors where it is of advantage to wedge the door to closed position.

My improved latch is simple in structure andat the same time is strongand durable and, as stated, it may be used either as a right or left hand latch.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a latch, the combination of a housing having spaced pivot ears on the top thereof and an opening between said ears, the end walls of the housing being provided with opposed bolt openings, 8. bolt mounted to reciprocate in said openings and provided with an opening aligned with said opening in said housing top, and with a shoulder, a spring disposed on said bolt to engage said shoulder, the opposite end of the spring being supported by the housing" whereby the bolt is normally projected, a bolt retracting lever pivotally mounted on said ears and provided with a finger projecting through said opening in said l1ous ing to engage said hole in said bolt, said finger constituting a stop limiting the projecting movement of said bolt, and a strike having a beveled keeper coacting with said bolt, the outer side of the bolt being beveled to engage with the edge of the keeper as the bolt is projected into engagement therewith, the keeper engaging the bolt beyond the beveled portion thereof when the bolt is fully projected, said strike having an inclined face with which said bolt coacts as it moves to keeper engaging position.

2. In a latch, the combination of a housing having spaced pivot ears on the top thereof and an opening between said ears, the end walls of the housing being provided with opposed bolt openings, a bolt mounted to reciprocate in said openings and pro-' vided with an opening aligned with said opening in said housing top, and with a shoulder, a spring disposed on said bolt to engage said shoulder, the opposite end of the spring being supported by the housing whereby the bolt is normally projected, and a bolt retracting lever pivotally mounted on said ears and provided with a finger projecting through said opening in said housing to engage said hole in said bolt, said finger constituting a sto limiting the projecting movement of said olt.

3. In a latch, the combination of a housing having spaced pivot ears on the top thereof and an opening between said ears, the end walls of the housing being provided with opposed bolt openings, 9. bolt mounted to reciprocate in said opening and provided with a transverse opening aligned with said opening in said housing top, and with a shoulder, a spring disposed on said bolt to engage said shoulder, the opposite end of the spring being supported by the housing whereby the bolt is normally projected, a bolt retracting lever pivotally mounted on said ears and provided with a finger projecting in said opening in said housing to engage said hole in said bolt, and a strike having a beveled keeper coacting with said bolt whereby the thrust of the spring pressed bolt acts to force the door on which the latch is mounted inwardly. i

4. In a latch, the combination of a housing having an opening in the top thereof, a bolt mounted to reciprocate in said housing and provided with an opening aligned with said opening in said housing, a spring for projectin' said bolt, a bolt retracting le'ver pivotall y mounted on said housing and provided with a finger projecting through said opening therein to engage said hole in said bolt, and a strike having a beveled keeper coacting with said bolt, the outer side of the bolt being beveled to engage with the edge of thekeeper as the bolt is projected into engagement therewith, the keeper engaging the bolt beyond the beveled portion thereof when the bolt is fully projected, said strike having an inclined face with which said bolt coacts as it moves to keeper engaging position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ISAAC S. KEELER. 

